Holding company Metro Pacific Investment Corp. is keen on acquiring state-owned hospitals in the event that the government decides to privatize them, MPIC chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said yesterday.

At the sidelines of the launch of Maynilad’s Water Academy, Pangilinan said MPIC is interested in acquiring specialized government hospitals, particularly the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center of the Philippines, National Kidney Institute, Philippine Orthopedic Center and Philippine Children’s Hospital.

Pangilinan said MPIC is also keen on acquiring the Philippine General Hospital if the government decides to place it on the auction block.

"I hope they do (privatize the hospitals). We’re encouraging them to take a look at it. It’s their timetable we have to follow," he said.

"If (the government) is ready, we’ll certainly take a look at it," he added.

MPIC currently owns four hospitals.

Last year, the company bought the majority stake in Riverside Medical Center, the largest hospital in Negros Occidental. It controls the Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center and Davao Doctors Hospital.